Improvements in a fast potentiometric seawater alkalinity determination

Abstract

In the present paper, we introduce some methodological improvements in a potentiometric technique for determining seawater alkalinity. This fast method (about two minutes per sample) uses open flasks and an ordinary titration system without thermostatic bath. A new potassium hydrogen phthalate-borax 4.4 buffer is proposed to calibrate the electrode near the end point of the titration. The pH values of this new buffer at different pH-scales and temperatures were determined using spectrophotometry. The combined use of this easy and improved two end-point method for alkalinity determination and certified reference material enables the alkalinity to be determined with an accuracy lower than 1 μmol kg-1 (0.05%).